Figs don't need winter grooming

During winter in Florida, fig plants take care of themselves by eventually dropping their leaves and going dormant. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Question: A portion of the leaves on my fig tree are green and the rest are dropping. What should I do to prepare it for winter?

Answer: Both you and your fig can take a rest during winter. In Florida, these small trees or large shrubs take care of themselves by eventually dropping their leaves and going dormant. Depending on how warm the winter may be, edible figs usually revive and begin growth from mid-February to mid-March.

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Your job is to do a little grooming in early February by removing small twiggy portions and out of bounds shoots. If needed, the trees and shrubs can be reduced in size by about one-third. Such heavy pruning is not always needed and may occur every two to three years. In March, apply the first fertilizer application, replenish mulch layers with a light top-dressing and keep the soil moist.

Q: My desert rose is developing a number of yellow leaves and some have a brown spot or two. What does this mean?

A: It means your desert rose is probably normal but a bit underfed. Photos with your email showed the foliage, in general, was light green to yellowish. Try a general houseplant or container plant fertilizer and follow label instructions. If your plant experienced recent temperatures below 40 degrees, some yellowing and leaf drop may occur too.

Brown spots noted on the leaves are likely due to fungal organisms affecting the weaker and declining leaves. There is no need to treat the leaves for a disease. Keep the plants vigorous with good feedings in a warm location and water when the surface soil begins to dry to the touch.

Q: I would like to re-establish my bahia lawn using seed. Can I scatter the seeds now or should I wait?

A: Delay this lawn renewal process a little longer. Some time between mid-February and early March would be ideal to make the next seeding. Bahia seeds do not germinate until temperatures are consistently in the 70s or above. Also, remember the seeds grow best if raked into the ground or covered with up to a half inch of soil. Then keep the ground moist and growth should begin in about 21 days.

Q: Our roebelinii palm has older declining fronds plus a few that are interfering with other plants. Can it be pruned now?

A: Palms don’t seem to be that temperature sensitive, so feel free to do the needed pruning at any time. Pruning does not appear to stimulate growth as it may with other plants. There is only one bud with most palm trunks that is in some phase of growth most of the time. Remember to be gentle and only remove what is needed. The ideal palm still has a full head of green foliage when the pruning is over.

Q: I am purchasing a hobby greenhouse. Should the cover be clear, frosted or a color?

A: Select the clear and most transparent covering possible. Glass is ideal, as it is clear and does not lose its transparency. But most hobby greenhouses are covered with fiberglass or a similar product. Over time, these can lose their transparency, and the result is less light for plant growth. If you select a clear covering and want to reduce the light level inside, use a shaded cloth. These can be removed when you need the full light level. Do note greenhouses get the most use fall through spring. During summer, they can be very hot even with fans and shade cloth coverings.

Q: We received an amaryllis bulb kit for the holidays, and the plant is now in bloom. Will it bloom again this spring?

A: Amaryllis bloom once a year, and your bulb should flower again in about 14 months. After the flowers fade, allow the plant to continue growth on the porch, patio or somewhere in the landscape where it’s in sun to light shade.

Keep the amaryllis in a container or transplant the bulb into the ground when spring arrives. Provide a moist soil and feed in-ground plantings every other month March through August. Feed container plants monthly during the same time. Blooms can be expected once more after a full year of growth during the early spring months, the normal flowering time for amaryllis.

Q: Some residents decorate with mistletoe during the holidays that is cut from our local trees. I understand the plant can cause harm to the limbs and trunks of the trees. Should it be removed?

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A: Not wanting to be a Scrooge for the holidays, let me first say mistletoe rarely kills a tree, but it’s not totally a good luck sign either as it can cause limb decline. The plant is a true parasite, taking water and nutrients from the trees but uses its own green leaves to manufacture the food it needs for growth.

Tree decline due to mistletoe appears to be limited to the limbs on which it is growing. The plant reduces the vigor of the limbs and also produces a wound that allows the entry of rot organisms. Most likely, it’s these rot organisms that eventually cause the limbs to decline. While you might like to have the mistletoe hanging around as a decoration for the holidays, it’s probably best to trim it from the trees when first noted.